There was a time when canned cocktails weren’t taken very seriously. But, boy have things changed. Over the past few years we’ve tasted an incredible array of mixed drinks – some from bartenders and industry insiders who really know their flavours, others from specialist and big name brands who want to get in on some of that canned-shaped action.
And who can blame them? Whether you pick up your cans up in a store or order online, they’re ready-to-go, ready-to-pour and ready to enjoy whenever and wherever the mood takes you. Big win. But that’s not all. As well as being super convenient, they help to reduce wastage and save you money in the process – why fill your cupboards with the multiple ingredients required to make one serve, when all of the shopping and hard work has been done for you?
And those are not the only thing we love about cans – they’re canny – excuse the pun – at keeping your consumption under control and, did you know that cans are the most recycled beverage packaging in the world, and can be recycled again and again and again? It’s little wonder why cans are changing the way we drink.
We’ve teamed up with Can Makers, the trade body representing drinks can manufacturers in the UK, in a quarterly series where we shop around and taste our way through our favourite canned cocktails for particular occasions.
First up: low- and no- …
Sandrae’s choice #1:
M&S Low Alcohol Grapefruit & Chilli Collins Cocktail
Need to know:
Ingredients: Carbonated water, sugar, concentrated grapefruit juice, flavourings, acidity regulator, citric acid, chilli extract, salt, spices (juniper, cardamom, pink peppercorns, all spice) rose petals, lavender
250ml. 0.5% ABV. Price: £2
Available from: Mark & Spencer
The lowdown:
These are not just no- and low- canned cocktails, these are M&S no- and low- canned cocktails and they’re getting a big thumbs up from me. I had a peek at the press release which proudly states that the range took a year to get the flavours right and ‘this game-changing range promises unrivalled quality and value for money compared to other non-alcoholic drinks currently on the market,’ blah, blah, blah. But never mind the puffery, the proof is in the shopping experience. And of course, the taste.
Shelf appeal:
I was particularly impressed by the display of the range: it’s well sign-posted, clean, inviting and, unlike some of the other supermarkets we checked out for this particular assignment, had a decent selection of cocktails on offer. Well, at least that was the case in the Angel, Islington branch, I can’t vouch for the rest…
The five cans in the low alc range, are all vividly coloured – taking their visual cues from the key ingredient featured in the cocktail. For instance, their 0.5% Low Alcohol Lime Mojito comes in a bright green can while the 0.5% Low Alcohol Extra Dry Botanical G&T is in a darker, more earthy green with a leafy motif in the background; the 0.5% Low Alcohol Cola & Golden Spiced Cocktail is packaged in red; 0.5% Low Alcohol Peach Sunset is nattily dressed in a peachy-pink, and the 0.5% Low Alcohol Pink Passion Star Cocktail makes its presence felt in vibrant fuschia. My 0.5% Low Alcohol Grapefruit & Chilli Collins Cocktail meanwhile is orange. All of the cans feature a corresponding decorative design framing the name of the cocktail and the all-important ‘0.5%’ positioned loud and proud on the front. Big tick.
Appearance and aroma:
Very pale, straw-like appearance; lovely fizz – lively but not aggressive, working well to lift the aroma from the can. There’s no denying the grapefruit – it’s very prevalent, very much prominent on the nose. Initially, you don’t get too much of the chilli but leave it to settle for a while and it a red, sweet paprika-ish heat starts to reveal itself.
0.5% Low Alcohol Grapefruit & Chilli Collins
Taste:
The first thing you get is the light, zingy grapefruit. If you’re not a fan of heat, don’t worry, the chilli lingers shyly in the background. When it does come through, it’s slow and considered, warming up the palate before gently making its presence felt. But the key thing to note is, it doesn’t overtake the balance of the drink. There’s no discernible alcohol taste but the finish is nice, dry, and agreeably bitter. Job done.
Verdict:
Not only was I impressed with the range and the price points, I love the way that M&S are taking their no- and low- selection seriously. Everything from the layout to the design of the cans has been carefully considered and the attention to detail pays off in the execution of the flavours – my Grapefruit & Chilli Collins in particular. And yes, I would buy it again.
***
Gary’s choice #1
Trip CBD Infused Peach Ginger Lightly Sparkling Premium CBD
Need to know:
Ingredients: Peach Ginger. Sparkling water, fruit Juices from concentrate 23%, (peach 20%, passion fruit), flavour enhancer (erythritol), natural ginger flavour with other natural flavours, botanical extracts (ginger, ginseng, turmeric, lemon balm, chamomile), acid (citric acid), L- theanine, CBD Extract (soya) (6mg/100ml), Sweetener (steviol glycosides from Stevia).
250ml. 0.0% ABV. Price: £2.20
Available from Boots and Mark & Spencer
The lowdown:
A rage of six drinks lightly infused with CBD from Trip. Describing their story as “We created Trip to share a bit of calm in the everyday chaos. CBD experiences that are just as enjoyable to taste as the feeling after. Products with amazing flavour to help you unwind into your best self”. The range features Blood Orange Rosemary, Cucumber Mint, Elderflower Mint, Lemon Basil, Raspberry Orange Blossom and, my selection, Peach Ginger.
Shelf Appeal:
The range has an appealing understated palette of colours. From soft yellow for the Blood Orange Rosemary, though lilac for Elderflower Mint, to pale blue for Cucumber Mint. There are also simple line drawings of hand in the background which gives the design an almost homemade feel which feels appropriate. The name itself, “Trip”, is bold and clear near to the top of the can, supported by “CBD Infused” beneath. The overall look of each can, when combined as a range, makes for a striking display showcasing each of the expressions clearly and invitingly on the shelf.
I was particularly drawn to “Peach Ginger”. The pastel colour in this instance was somewhere between pink and orange, and very appealing. While the hand drawing signified the peace sign. Given the promise of the brand is to deliver a little calm, the can design already had me feeling chilled.
Appearance and aroma:
Quite a healthy fizz when pouring, but the most noticeable thing in its appearance was the colour. Cloudy yellow with a hint of green. The cloudiness in particular made it look very natural.
Very ginger on the nose. Luckily I really like ginger. The first sip revealed two things. It wasn’t as intensely fizzy as I thought it was going to be – a good thing. The other thing was the peach, in the aroma it was very subtle indeed, the ginger being much more prevalent.
Taste:
As the cloudy yellow suggested it actually tastes quite natural. The ginger felt freshly grated, but not too intense, and is really the star from start to lingering finish. And it’s in the finish where there was a hint of peach too, along with a little well balanced sweetness.
Not overly complex but certainly a refreshing drink.
Verdict:
Interestingly it certainly livened up the tastebuds. As for the promise of calm, outlined on the can, I can’t really say as I wasn’t feeling stressed to begin with. Having said that the drink is very tasty, and calm was actually delivered by the pleasing design of the can.
Sandrae’s choice #2
Tayer + Everleaf Jasmine + Lily Highball
Need to know:
Everleaf Mountain, jasmine, lily, tuberose and soda.
Ingredients: Water, sugar, acacia gum, carrageenan, natural botanical distillate, extracts and flavours. Acids: citric acid, malic acid, trisodium citrate
250ml. 0.0% ABV. Price: £4.50
Available from tayer-elementary.com
The lowdown:
What do you get when Tayer + Elementary, one of the most respected bars in the world team up with Everleaf, one of the best-selling, award-winning, delicious non-alcoholic aperitif brands? A very clever, beautifully balanced, great-tasting drink, that’s what. I absolutely love this, it will go down a storm at picnics in the spring/summer months but it’s also a welcome tonic in dreary winter.
Shelf appeal:
This one isn’t on the shelf per se, it’s available online and definitely worth seeking out – cans = convenience after all and what’s more convenient than having your drinks delivered to your door?
The packaging is pared back – minimal, understated but that less is more design speaks volumes: it’s elegant, this is a can that takes its contents seriously. The background is composed of tiny dots, reminiscent of that technical drawing paper that architects use. There’s a slash of tasteful pinky/red colour that creeps up from the bottom front edge of the can, continuing to the rear. Look closely and you’ll see that it’s sakura blossom in the mountains, echoing the main ingredient found in the base ingredient, Everleaf Mountain. Oh yes, this is onehelluva can – inside and out.
Appearance and aroma:
The pale blush pink brings a freshness to the glass and while there’s plenty of fizzy action on pouring, this quickly settles to fine, gentle bubbles which bring elegance to the glass. On the nose, I get florals but also a hint of those Fruit Salad sweets I remember from my childhood lingering in the background. That doesn’t mean synthetic or sweet for that matter – more of an inviting aroma that makes me want to dive in and explore.
Taste:
They describe the limited-edition drink as “Non-alcoholic bangerz with Everleaf Mountain”, and we concur. It’s a banger alright. Never mind non-alc, it’s a delicious drink whether you’re conscious of your abv intake or not. It’s light, fresh, delicately floral with a subtle sweetness that comes from the genius choice of blending jasmine, lily and tuberose, rather than the usual shortcut of adding sweeteners. That said, the finish is dry and lingers long enough for you to want another sip. #love
Verdict:
Can you tell that I’m a fan? This is a great drink and you can taste that this comes from great minds at work who love working with and creating new flavours.
***
Gary’s choice #2
Dirty Spritz Italian Citrus Bitters & Fizz
Need to know:
Ingredients: Carbonated spring water, acids:tartaric acid, citric acid, natural flavourings, (with quinine). Concentrates (safflower, lemon, carrot, blackcurrant), sweetener, sterol glycosides {from stevia).
250ml. 0.0% ABV. Price: £1.40
Available from Mark & Spencer
The lowdown:
Part of the Dirty Laundry range of 0.0% cocktails and mixed drinks. There are five in the range including Dirty Mojito, Dirty Raspberry Mojito, Dirty Margarita, Dirty Fizz and, my choice, Dirty Spritz. In their words, “we’re on a mission to remove artificial sweeteners from soft drinks… with game changing taste, innovation, and sustainability”. While on the can itself it states “Sparkling 0.0 ABV, all natural, zero calorie, zero sugar cocktail”.
Shelf appeal:
The range stood out well on the shelf for a combination of reasons. Each can had a distinct, unique colour, such as mint green for the Dirty Mojito and a golden yellow for the Dirty Fizz. Also the typography was nicely minimal, making the most of the slim can with the ‘Dirty Laundry’ logo body running sideways along its full length.
As for my choice the single can colour in question was an inviting deep orange which nicely suggested the bitter element. This was underlined by the clean design which clearly sign-posted the name and description “Dirty Spritz. Italian Citrus Bitters & Fizz”, along with support messaging, “0.0 ABV, All Natural Ingredients, Zero Calories”. Altogether a great use of the can’s real estate, standing out well from the many choices on the M&S shelves.
The range having caught my eye with its design and name (Dirty Spritz, suggested 0% alcohol doesn’t have to mean goody two shoes) I went for this particular expression because I really love bitter flavours and everything about this can suggested that’s what I would be getting.
Appearance and aroma:
Pouring my Dirty Spritz into the glass it had an appealing effervescence along with an even more appealing colour. The rich orange bitters colour of the can was nicely echoed with the deep colour of the liquid which invitingly signalled the bitters. On the nose it had a freshness and the bitters were definitely there. It actually reminded me, rather pleasingly, of an Americano (bitters, sweet vermouth and soda).
Taste:
The first sip was good. The sparkle was subtle and natural, not the intensity that can be overpowering from some carbonation. The follow through from the aroma was good too. The promise of the bitter element was delivered and very welcome, along with just a hint of sweetness which put me in mind of blood oranges, and carried through in the finish. As a good mixed drink should it had layers, revealing a little more with each sip. Going back a few times I also liked a suggestion of vanilla coming through. Moreover there was a good mouth feeling adding to its depth.
Verdict:
The promise of a bitters based drink suggested by the can’s appearance was satisfyingly delivered in a very good alternative to an alcoholic spritz.
***
